Paolini’s Next Project: A Sci-fi Novel

After finishing Inheritance, Christopher set his sights on an entirely new universe: our own! His next project has been announced as a sci-fi novel, which he remains hard at work on. The book has been in the works for over two years.

With a year of planning and months more of writing, Christopher was finally ready to open up about the unnamed book:

“I messed around with a number of short stories, each in a different style. I even tried my hand at a screenplay (they’re harder than they look). And I read as many books and watched as many movies as I could.

Once I had recharged my creative batteries, I knew I was ready to tackle something bigger. Much bigger. So I began researching the information I’d need. For nine to ten months, I scoured the Internet for details obvious and obscure. I called and emailed professors around the world. I spent days hashing over various world-building issues with my friends and family. All so that I could do justice to the setting I had decided on for my next story.

And then, only then, did I start to write.

So far, it’s been a blast. The story is science fiction—one of my first loves, along with fantasy—and full of aliens, spaceships, lasers, strange new planets, and explosions. You know, fun stuff. At the same time, I’m hoping that the story will stir people’s emotions, as well as give them a few interesting things to think about. As with all creative endeavors, there’s no guarantee of success. But I think it’s going to end up being pretty awesome.”

Plot, Setting, and More

Christopher dropped his first major hint at the setting of his book: 61 Cygni A. With nothing else to go on, we started digging… and found some interesting information:

61 Cygni A is one of two stars that make up the 61 Cygni binary star system (a star system with two stars orbiting each other). 61 Cygni is located “relatively” close to Earth – just 11.4 light years away. Look up into the night sky and you may barely be able to make out these stars with the naked eye – they are among the least conspicuous visible stars.

Throughout the twentieth century, astronomers reported sighting a massive planet orbiting one of the system’s two stars. The object was said to have a mass eight times the size of Jupiter, taking 4.8 years to orbit 61 Cygni A. Scientists later speculated that the system included two giant planets (six and twelve Jupiter masses) orbiting 61 Cygni A and one giant planet (seven Jupiter masses) orbiting 61 Cygni B. However, modern technology has found no planets within this solar system. This could mean absolutely nothing… but it could also make for a fun story. A massive planet is there in the 20th century and later completely disappears?

We also know that Christopher spent a substantial time researching FTL (Faster Than Light) technology, revealing that we’ll see ships capable of traveling substantial distances within his universe. FTL is a science fiction technology used throughout many popular science fiction films, shows, and books, including Star Trek.

@SamuelTolbert: Any news on the sci-fi novel you are working on? Even hints?Christopher: “’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves/Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;”

@NolanHolley: Where on the scale in terms of “hard” sci-fi is your current project?Christopher: 8.5 on the hardness scale, where 1 is DRAGONS IN SPACE! And 10 is a physics textbook. #ihope #fingerscrossed

@Jamaha3: What’s the first word of your new book?Christopher: “the” … but it’s subject to change.

@Mattrosenberg: What POV will your next book be in?Christopher: Limited third person. 😀

Tracking His Progress

Christopher has been very open about his progress writing the book, regularly sharing photos of chapters as they’re finished. We’ve compiled a gallery of these photos:

No announcements have been made regarding a release date for the novel, nor has Christopher addressed whether we’ll see any of the short stories mentioned above. With the author currently powering through chapters of the sci-fi book, it may not be long before we hear more news regarding a title, synopsis, cover, or release date!

Teague Ricks

it better bring good news soon or im gonna stop checking this page

Hello There

Oh my goodness this is going to be so cool! Hmm, I’m thinking I might want to recall and research binary star system. Speaking of hints, does anyone know why he mentioned part of the poem “Jabberwocky”? I haven’t read the book it comes from, but I’ve heard the poem.

Anthony Amato

I’m not a huge scfi fan, but I’m actually looking forward to this one!

Zeke Boaz

when is there going to be an update, there has been nothing for at least from the last update 3 years, THREE BLEEPING YEARS, i’m mean come on.

EternalShade

paolini.net

Lots more updates on the new book.

Zeke Boaz

when is there going to be an update or an announcement, there has been nothing for several months now

Zeke Boaz

is there going 2 b any news on the book, i mean there has been nothing 4 a long time, and how long is the book going 2 b, i mean there have been no updates or announcements on how long the book is going 2 b or at least an idea

Zeke Boaz

when is there going to be an update, there has hardly been any updates on anything, plz reply anyone who knows when there is going to be an announcements or update, plz

Sam Jensen

The snatch of poetry is a part of “Jabberwocky” from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.

Zeke Boaz

when is there going to be an announcement or an update, cuze there has been nothing for the past 4 months

Recommend_#

It took like four years apparently to make the last book in the series; I’m sure it will take at least 2 years before Paolini waits another two to publish it.

Zeke Boaz

well, maybe that all depends on how long the book is, and how many chapters he does.

Amanda Burton

I’d think any where from 500-950pgs.

Zeke Boaz

going on estimation on the last book he wrote, Inheritance, which was about 850 pages

Recommend_#

Gosh half the posts here are spamming for book 5 even though it explicilty talks about the sci-fi thing coming up who knows when, which I would of course want to pick up the first opportunity I get!

Zeke Boaz

when is there going to be an announcement ?

Zeke Boaz

when is there going to be a release date ?

Recommend_#

there is no release date at the moment — it’s right there in the article

Collin Black

Release Date?

Zeke

WHEN IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE SCI-FI BOOK I’M DYING TO KNOW

Zeke Boaz

is there going to be any update on the Sci-fi novel

Jessica Gross

So is there a release date for this book yet?

Nathan Smiddy

I hope that they do bring another film Eragon sure did make me cry when I saw that the dragon was dead at the ending and that part did make me cry like

Ebrithil

You didn’t read the books before watching the Movie?

Toahero

Sigh. It is a pity to meet one so unenlightened

Recommend_#

what do you mean Toahero? and by the way i have a feeling its a bad idea to read the books before watching the movie

Toahero

I was just joking about how terrible the movie was, and how different it was from the book series.

The movie is a terrible cookie cutter plot, with a bunch of stupid scenes that were added in for “drama” in order to avoid having to finish it properly.

by the way I’m pretty sure wards and magic protection only lasts so long before it wears out, and the only beings that can make an absolute ward on brightsteel giving it unlimited endurance are probably the grey folk.

Zeke Boaz

well not just the grey folk cuze if u have enough energy stored anyone can have a long lasting ward or protection spell, like Eragon and the ring he had along with the Belt of Beloth the Wise, plus the gem on bottom of his sword

Recommend_#

those wards that mortal beings create probably don’t have an infinite (not long-lasting) strength; otherwise anyone attempting to actually put an infinitessimally-strong ward would die from the energy required.

Zeke Boaz

not if u have enough of the energy, cuze if u remember eragon had
the ring, the jewel in his sword, and belt of belowth the wise, plus saphira, that is 14 gems and a dragon for assistence, that should be plenty enough, like when eragon took out galbatorix he had help with the spell, and when u have enough help u can get enough energy for the spell

Recommend_#

yes, sent from the Grey Folks (not a fact), who I’m sure are the “gods” of Alagaesia and beyond. In my opinion the elves were dumb enough to believe that there weren’t gods, the people that wove the universe together. It’s unrealistic enough that brightsteel exists, which for one is unbreakable and two takes the place of iridium, the real metal supposed to be flying from who knows where. Wow, the dwarves are far smarter than the magic-veined and secular elves. Ha, it’s not like nature would create a material that melts naturally but just happens to be completely unbreakable when melded into any crazy old weapon. The Grey Folk will come only when there is a problem with what exists in nature, and apparently there wasn’t any problems during the time of Paolini’s inheritance books. I actually feel that this sci-fi book will be a mashup of fantastical things and sci-fi things, which the book or series coming out may even explain each other (as in maybe this sci-fi book might explain some stuff going on in alagaesia and the fifth book might explain the sci-fi novel. This idea is unlikely, but there’s no stopping conspiracy theories.)

Jack

GIVE ME MORE ALAGAESIA!

Evarinbitr

YAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Rasha_the_amazing

so excited to read the next book!!
hope we get a release date soon!!

lana zakharkin

BOOK 5! GOD! AARRRR…

the jedi

Will book 5 be as long as the others?

the HAMMER

Do you know how book 5 is going to play out. What the plot is or anything?

the HAMMER

is this paolini or is this just a prank? Good job if it’s not him.

Christopher P.

A prank? I don’t know what exactly you mean but LOL all the same. 🙂 As for Book V, I have got to finish the Sci-fi novel that I am writing before I can go back to writing Inheritance once again. I don’t want to give any spoilers for Book V of Inheritance, but I will tell you this. The main character is someone that you have met in Inheritance before.

Christopher P.

Hey guys, I see that I have some friends on here with some questions, so lets get started!

Kevin

Will book 5 be just about Angela’s backstory, or will it also include the training of the new dragon riders?

Kevin

Ha ha I know this is just a prank

the HAMMER

But I don’t know if that is possible.

the HAMMER

He says that it will be better than Inheritance!

Lucas Peixoto Dantas

Who knows the brisingr sword, appears as easter eggs, ^^

Silver1989

That can’t be Brisingr because Brisingr has a jewel on the end…

Recommend_#

No at the base of the sword not at the end. Who would want all that weight at the end as if Brisingr [sword catches on fire for a brief moment] was a club or something?

MasterBrom

He did make a comment on his twitter account about the book being the first in a series. When I tweeted him a question about how many, he deleted the tweet!!

Nolan Holley

I was curious about whether or not it was a standalone story…thanks for sharing!